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MONDAY , MARCH 21, 2011
Years
lifestyle Music and Movies
Actor Denis O’Hare accepts an award on behalf of his television show ’True Blood’.
Russell Simmons, left, accepts the ‘Excellence in Media Award’ from the Rev Al Sharpton.
Ricky Martin accepts the ‘Vito Russo’ award at the 22nd Annual GLAAD Media Awards in New York, Saturday.—AP photos
Martin gets top award by US media group
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atin pop star Ricky Martin was honored by media group GLAAD for his work as a role model at a gala held on Saturday where he urged people to spread gay rights throughout Latin America. “I just want to be free. I can say, today I am free,” the Puerto Rican singer said at New York’s Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) Media Awards, which recognize the best portrayals of gay community members in film, television, radio, music, newspapers and blogs. Martin, the 39 year-old singer of hits such as his 1999 single “Livin’ la Vida Loca” who has sold more than 60 million albums worldwide, revealed he was gay in 2010 after more than a decade in the interna-
tional spotlight. His coming-out included a TV interview with Oprah Winfrey and since then, he has been heralded as a gay role model, especially for Latin Americans. Martin thanked his parents and boyfriend before urged the audience to “let’s go Latin America and let’s share the love.” US comedian Tina Fey accepted the outstanding individual episode award for a program on her TV show “30 Rock,” and music mogul Russell Simmons received an excellence award for breaking boundaries in the world of hip-hop music. Vampire TV show “True Blood” won outstanding drama series, while “The Oprah Winfrey Show” claimed best talk show episode for “Ricky Martin
Coming Out as a Gay Man and a New Dad.” Martin, who became the father of twin boys with a surrogate mother in 2008, was given the Vito Russo Award, named for the late gay activist and film historian. Among other winners were U.S. band Scissor Sisters and stage play “The Pride.” CNN’s Anderson Cooper, newspapers The Star-Ledger and The Denver Post and online magazine Essence.com were singled out for their coverage of gay and lesbian issues. GLAAD, which promotes positive images of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in the media, will present additional media awards in Los Angeles on April 10 and San Francisco in May 14.—Reuters
Tina Fey accepts an award on behalf of her television show ‘30 Rock’ at the 22nd Annual GLAAD Media Awards.
HK film festival opens, mood hurt by Japan crisis
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Bill Cosby waves to people on their porches as he walks down Woodland Drive in Toledo, Ohio on Saturday.—AP
Cosby visits Ohio to urge community responsibility
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omedian Bill Cosby is visiting northwest Ohio to encourage parents and community members to take responsibility for keeping their children and neighborhoods safe. The Toledo Blade reports he spoke Friday to 750 people at a dinner in Maumee for the Greater Toledo Urban League. He also was expected to participate in a rally at a park on Saturday. Cosby told the Friday audience he’s “tired of children
raising themselves” and others doing nothing about it. The newspaper says Cosby shared childhood stories and talked about a tough elementary school teacher and others who helped guide his life and offered accountability. He said the Saturday rally would include marching and drums, and he urged people to smile, shake hands and connect with those they meet along the way.—AP
Thornton hopes documentary will be lasting tribute
Billy Bob Thornton arrives at a SXSW Film Festival screening of the Willie Nelson documentary he directed titled ‘King of Luck’ in Austin, Texas on Saturday.—AP
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illy Bob Thornton thought a documentary tribute to Willie Nelson was long overdue. So he made one himself. Thornton’s “The King of Luck” premiered Saturday in Austin, the final film to premiere as part of the South by Southwest Film Festival. “We just wanted to do an accurate and loving tribute to Willie,” Thornton said from the red carpet, shortly before the start of the premiere. “He’s a guy that’s been a legend, especially in these parts, for a long time and we thought he deserved kind of a fulllength documentary.” Thornton started shooting the documentary while on the road touring with Nelson. The title is a reference to Nelson’s Austin-area ranch, which he named Luck, Texas. “His crew and his band and Willie, they’re all such laid back and nice people,” said Thornton, whose mother
turned him onto Nelson’s music as a kid. “It’s a real easy thing, they have no ego about them.” Like a lot of folks, Thornton said, he can’t quite remember the first time he met Nelson. “I can’t remember it, it just happened,” he said chuckling. “But it was a long time ago.” Fittingly, Nelson was on the road again and did not attend the premiere. Several of Nelson’s contemporaries, like entertainer Kinky Friedman, musician Ray Benson of Asleep at the Wheel and Jimmie Dale Gilmore, were in attendance. Late night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel also attended the premiere, as did US Rep Lloyd Doggett, who introduced the film. “This is really a movie that’s told by the people around him, who love him and we thought he deserved it,” Thornton said.—AP
ome of Asia’s top filmmakers screened their new movies to kick off the 35th Hong Kong International Film Festival yesterday, although the mood was subdued because of Japan’s earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disasters. Japan’s crisis cast doubt on whether its actors and directors will attend the Hong Kong festival. Popular Japanese director Shunji Iwai, a native of hard-hit Sendai city, has canceled his appearance at the Asian premiere of his first English-language movie, “Vampire.” It remains unclear whether prominent Japanese nominees like Koji Yakusho, Rinko Kikuchi and Takako Matsu will attend the awards ceremony, the Asian Film Awards, on Monday. However, a delegation from the Tokyo International Film Festival attended Sunday’s opening ceremony. Festival chairman Wilfred Wong expressed solidarity with Japan’s people and its film industry. “Ever since the Hong Kong International Film Festival started 35 years ago, Japanese film has occupied an important place at the event. Our Japanese friends in the film industry have also supported the festival continuously,” Wong said. “At this difficult time, I want to deliver our sincere condolences and best wishes to the entire Japanese people, including our many friends in the film industry.” The Hong Kong event’s two opening films were “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart,” a romantic comedy directed by Hong Kong veteran Johnnie To and regular partner Wai Ka-fai, and “Quattro Hong Kong 2,” which combines four shorts set in this southern Chinese financial hub made by filmmakers from Hong Kong, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand. The omnibus work was commissioned by the Hong Kong festival. “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” is part of To’s recent push into the mainland Chinese market with blander fare than his signature crime thrillers, which are often too violent or gritty to pass mainland censorship. But the movie’s story of a playboy Hong Kong trader and an earnest Canadian-Chinese archi-
tect pulling all stops to win the heart of a mainland Chinese financial analyst reads like political commentary on China’s growing geopolitical clout. To didn’t attend Sunday’s opening ceremony, but his co-director denied any political overtones in the movie. “There is nothing like that,” Wai told The Associated Press. “This is more simple. We just wanted to capture the common dilemma that women face
evoked comparisons to Australian director Patrick Hughes’ hit short, “Signs,” which has received more than 6.5 million views on YouTube. Wai, however, said the Hong Kong filmmakers came up with the idea independently and only later saw “Signs.” “If you live in Hong Kong, you’ll notice that many buildings are very close together. My home is like that,” he said.—AP
when choosing between two very different boys.” The film derives much of its comedy through the unusual courtship between the main characters-they work in neighboring office buildings and communicate by writing signs they display to each other. The narrative tool has
(From left) Hon Kong actor Daniel Wu, Chinese actress Gao Yuanyuan, Hong Kong director Wai Kai-fai and Hong Kong actor Louis Koo pose for photographers at the opening of the 35th Hong Kong International Film Festival in Hong Kong yesterday.—AP
Cameos by Gibbons, Badu liven SXSW N
obody seemed to notice at first when legendary blues guitarist Billy Gibbons, front man for ZZ Top, jumped up on the stage Saturday at Stubbs BBQ for a free showcase marking the final hours of the South by Southwest Music festival. But fans excitedly rushed over once the long-bearded bluesman began playing “Dust My Broom.” They eagerly snapped cellphone pictures of Gibbons while he did a stand-in with the New York-based group The Cringe. The cameo underscored the sometimes magical and impromptu feel of South by Southwest, which wraps up this weekend in hipster Austin, Texas, with last-minute acts scheduled to include Kanye West on Saturday night. On Friday, singer Erykah Badu unexpectedly jumped on stage with rapper Bun B, and Jack White of White Stripes fame delighted street walkers Wednesday when he plugged into a mobile amp and staged a free show in a downtown parking lot. Gibbons appeared Friday unannounced at the free food and music event called “Feedback” hosted by cooking celebrity Rachael Ray. Other acts that performed: Wanda Jackson, the “first lady of rockabilly,” Charlie Mars and Fitz and The Tantrums. “It’s a mash-up of everything I love: actual friends and family, food, and great music,” said Ray, host of a nationally syndicated TV show. Ray said she worked for months on the seven recipes for consideration at the event Saturday. Her “culinary coordinator,” Andrew Kaplan, had to knock off three of them, a process she likened to killing a family member or “putting
down a pet.” She was disappointed he shot down the mini deviled corndogs on a stick, but the four he finally settled on left fans waiting in a staggeringly long line: shredded pork “ropa vieja” on tortillas, 5 chili chili-a vegetarian chili thickened with portabella mushrooms, jalapeno popper sliders and flank steak “tost-achos.” People began lining up at 5 a.m. to attend the free event, which Ray has hosted several years running to “pay back” Austin for hosting the festival. Gibbons was hawking his own food product, a new hot sauce called BFG 44: “Let’s spice it up a little bit,” he said as he handed out bottles sporting a label that reads, “Have Mercy. Shake Well.” Other than that, Gibbons said he’s in the studio with his ZZ Top band mates working a new album. South by Southwest, now in its 25th year, draws about 2,000 musical acts and pumps over $100 million into the local economy, officials say. There’s also a film conference still running. For those who can’t catch the music during the festival, ABC comedy show host Jimmy Kimmel is in town to find the most “buzzed about” group that he will put on his show March 29. The acts sign up on www.whooznxt.com , and fan responses produce the winner. “Hopefully it will help good bands get an audience,” said Kimmel, making his own cameo appearance at the Rachael Ray event. “I want to see some bands that I’ve never heard of before.” —AP ZZ Top’s Billy Gibons, foreground, plays with John Cusimano at Rachael Ray’s Feedback side party during the SXSW Music Festival.